Thanks Kiran for raising this intriguing point on Elephant hearing. Would be interested to learn more about the differences in Elephant hearing vs humans. Is it possible that they are unable to hear the louder part of the hearing spectrum? regards,
rakesh On Fri, Sep 24, 2010 at 3:40 PM, kiran srivastava <srivastava...@gmail.com>wrote: > One of the more serious concerns facing our wildlife today is the gradual > squeezing of forest corridors and consequently, isolating forests. Elephants > have used the same long migration routes over centuries, and many are > through forest corridors. Railway lines cutting across forests corridors is > a hazard for all wildlife. Elephants being social tend to look after one > another in distress situations and therefore, this species suffers the most > as we have read in this case. > > Elephants make low-frequency calls which also generate powerful vibrations > in the ground - seismic signals that elephants can feel, and even interpret, > via their sensitive trunks and feet. They are adept in communicating over > long distances using ultrasound. I wonder why they do not feel the vibration > of an on-coming train and treat it as a danger signal and avoid crossing the > tracks? Elephants learn quickly and the matriarch (leader of the herd) will > quickly realise impending danger and lead the herd away. Perhaps, these were > inexperienced elephants and panicked... > > Sad all the same... > > Regards, > Kiran Srivastava > Mumbai > > On Fri, Sep 24, 2010 at 12:25 AM, Shantanu <shnt...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Yes Pankaj ji.....fences cannot be set up in elephant corridors...they >> need to move from one part of the forest to other for food. It has >> been observed that most of these accidents, take place at night, when >> the elephants are out foraging.... >> >> in this incident,one of the seven elephants was dragged for more than >> 400 metres before the train stopped. Two babies and three female >> elephants, one male tusker and a juvenile died.... The West Bengal >> forest dept officials have filed an FIR against the railways, because >> the speed limit of 25 kms have been crossed. >> >> and there has been a sudden spurt in elephant deaths after the line >> was converted from narrow gauge to broad gauge in 2004. >> >> Actually this is a vital railway-link between north Bengal and Assam. >> But in that case, the trains should restrict their speed to 25 km per >> hours while passing through the sensitive eleplant corridors. >> >> Please check this link for more info on this mishap.... >> >> http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article790867.ece >> >> Shantanu. >> >> On Sep 23, 10:53 pm, Smita Raskar <smita.ras...@gmail.com> wrote: >> > Very Sad :( >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > On Thu, Sep 23, 2010 at 10:30 PM, Shantanu <shnt...@gmail.com> wrote: >> > > Hi >> > > I am sure many members of this group are wildlife-enthusiasts and >> > > animal lovers, and even if not then also ....you will be shocked to >> > > know that Wednesday night, a speeding goods train crushed 7 elephants >> > > when the herd was crossing the line near Binnaguri in the Jalpaiguri >> > > district of West Bengal. >> > >> > > Two babies were stuck in the tract, and five adults came to rescue the >> > > calves , and all were knocked down by the goods train. >> > >> > > Five elephants died immediately on the spot, and other two succumbed >> > > to death on Thursday morning... >> > >> > > More than 20 elephants have died in little more than a year in this >> > > area of Bengal, which is considered to be an important elephant >> > > corridor. >> > >> > > The train was running at 70 kms per hour, while the speed limit was >> > > restricted to a maximum of 40 kms per hour. >> > >> > > In India, the elephant population is depleting fast due to poaching, >> > > habitat destruction and train accidents. >> > >> > > Shantanu. >> > >> > -- >> > Smita raskar >> > M.Sc.(Botany), B.Ed. >> > Biology Teacher >> > Home: >> > 308 Disha Residency, >> > Salaiwada,Sawantwadi >> > Phone (02363) 274153 >> > Mob.9422379568- Hide quoted text - >> > >> > - Show quoted text - > > >
